IUPAC Name of Alkanes

Methane

Ethane

C2H6

Propane

C3H8

Butane

C4H10

Pentane

C5H12

Hexane

C6H14

Heptane

C7H16

Octane

C8H18

Nonane

C9H20

Decane

C10H22

Undecane

C11H24

Dodecane

C12H26

Methyl

Ethyl

Propyl

Butyl

Pentyl

Hexyl

Isopropyl

(CH3)2CH-

sec-butyl

*sec is not considered for alphabetizing

isobutyl

tert-butyl

*tert is not considered for alphabetizing

neopentyl

What are the steps for IUPAC Naming?

1. Name your parent chain (longest continuous chain of carbons)

2. Number your parent chain to get the most number of substituents

3. Identify substituents

4. assemble the name based on alphabetical order and number

What prefixes are NOT Considered in IUPAC naming? (alphabetical order)

di, tri, tetra, sec-, tert-

What prefixes ARE considered in IUPAC naming? (alphabetical order)

iso, tert, cyclo, and neo

Naming cycloalkanes

The same rules apply but the cycloalkane is not counted along with a linear chain.

- parent chain is always longest carbon chain

When to write 1 for cycloalkanes?

substituents - write "1"

Monosubstituted alkanes - don't write "1" (it is implied)

Overall tips for IUPAC naming

Be able to go both ways:

- write name from the pictoral structure

- draw structure from the name